Readers tell 'Hot Button': Is Kenneth Whalum right?

What do they think about his suggestion that the MCS board should appoint a black man as school superintendent?

Today's question: What do you think about the suggestion from Memphis City Schools board member Kenneth Whalum Jr. that the board should seek to appoint a black man as the new school superintendent?

I definitely agree with Pastor Whalum. The absolute majority of the children in trouble in the Memphis City Schools are little black boys, who are on a fast track to becoming troubled black men.

If these little black boys never see positive leaders in positions of authority that look like them, how will they ever start to believe they can become the leaders they were meant to be?

Jocelyn Eddins

Memphis

Absolutely! Who understands the struggle of a "strong black man"? Who can teach my "little black boy" to be a "strong black man"? The answer is, a "strong black man."

Trenall Hatton

Memphis

Mr. Whalum's statement propagates racism and moves us backward to the extreme. If only black people understand black people, then only white people understand white people, and only Hispanics understand Hispanics, etc. What about biracial individuals? Also, what about only women understanding women, or men only understanding men? Do you see the picture?

The only consideration should be hiring an individual with a proven, successful track record of improving and sustaining an educational system with diverse students and meeting the needs of all.

Carole Todd

Collierville

I wish color had nothing at all to do with the hiring process. With Mr. Whalum's rationale, shouldn't all the teachers and principals be black also? They are the ones who have to deal directly with the students, not the superintendent.

Ronald Hurley

Memphis

Mr. Whalum may be right that a black man is needed to head the school district because so many of the students are black. But more than that, the man needs to be an honorable man, one that the students (black and white, male and female) can look up to and respect, one that they know others respect, and one that they can emulate.

This eliminates Dr. Willie Herenton from consideration.

Pat Edwards

Memphis

I do not have a problem with the statement, or the prospect of hiring a black man as superintendent for our predominantly black Memphis City Schools system. My concern lies with the individual chosen.

We don't need a self-aggrandizing figurehead who passes the blame off to someone else and does not offer substantial solutions to the problems. In addition to being the most qualified, will the person chosen have a heart for God's children, be committed to the task at hand and work diligently with (not just oversee) all of those (staff, teachers and administrators) who are in the trenches daily? I implore the school board to seek God's guidance through prayer, as you would if you were making a personal, life-changing decision for your own family.

Debra Cummings

Memphis

Kenneth Whalum is absolutely right. The majority of Memphis City Schools students are our African-American children. Our black boys would be most influenced positively by a black male figure who looks like them and who can relate to the issues they face daily. Our black boys need hope, role models, someone who can tell them "been there, done that," and someone they can truly look up to. A black superintendent would afford them that.

Stephanie Addison-James

Memphis

I do not wish to judge the man Kenneth Whalum, for I am sure he is a decent and honorable man. However, to say that any person deserves anything because of the color of his or her skin is, by definition, a racist statement.

I like to play a little game when reading these controversial statements made by our political leaders. Substitute the word "black" for "white," and vice versa; then see for yourself whether it sounds racist or not.

Stephen Utley

Memphis

The comment that a black man should be sought to fill the superintendent position is absolutely correct, if he is an African-American, that is, who judges people by their character; and if he is the best educated of all the candidates; and if his rapport with the children/youth is better than that of the other candidates.

Commissioner Whalum, in essence, has challenged a community to put forth a son, if they -- the families, schools (K-12 and universities), churches, etc. -- can. He is highlighting the continual betrayal of certain boys in Memphis.

Cottrel Carson

West Memphis

In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Brown v. Board of Education, ruled race out as a consideration in assigning children to public schools.

I am reminded of the notion, "if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck." If it sounds like racial and sexual bias, and results in racial and sexual bias, it probably is racial and sexual bias.

As Justice John Roberts said in a majority Supreme Court opinion in 2007: "The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race." If the most qualified candidate happens to be black and a man, then so be it.

Pam Warnock Green

Memphis

Rev. Whalum's suggestion, in my opinion, is a very good one! This black man, of course, should be someone of integrity and high morals. What better person could our young boys have as a role model?

Perhaps someone of that caliber could trigger pride in our boys and young men like we've never had before; and this in turn would show them that if you respect yourself, authority, and others, you can go much further in life.

Faye A. Stroud

Bartlett

Why would anyone in this day and time want to consider race in the selection process? Aren't we bigger than that? Don't we want racial profiling to just go away?

We all know that the color of skin of a person in such a position doesn't affect a child's career path. Or does it? Because of the color of Tiger Woods' skin, he started a movement of young black boys who wanted to play golf. Because of the color of his skin, he has people who know nothing about golf watching a sport they don't play -- i.e., my wife and I.

Are we so colorblind that we can't see the value of color, especially when it comes to stopping the perpetual spiraling morals of our young black men? I don't have a problem with hiring the most qualified superintendent, but shouldn't we consider all the needs for the position? Or should we conveniently leave out something that would visually, unconsciously or consciously, impact our children?

Michael De'Shazer

Memphis

What does the color of a person's skin have to do with a person's competence and ability?

It is time to find someone with a proven background, with new and fresh ideas, who can work toward and achieve excellence in our schools, certainly not someone in favor of closing library branches and community centers for our children.

Rita Robins

Memphis

Whalum is right about the MCS needing a black man. I also agree with us not spending money to do a recruitment search when the current mayor and past superintendent is willing to take the job.

Lanette Coleman

Memphis

I think an Army sergeant woman, or another strong woman, should be in there running this show. Kids tend to listen to women more, and color does not matter.

Beth Franklin

Memphis

Tell us what you think about this week's question

Shelby County residents could face a property tax increase unless officials are able to close a budget shortfall that could be as large as $29 million for the fiscal year that begins July 1. We'd like to know:

What solutions do you suggest to reduce or eliminate an expected $23 million to $29 million shortfall in next year's Shelby County budget?

E-mail your response to hotbutton@commercialappeal.com by April 9. Keep it short (three or four sentences, if you can) and include your name, home address and daytime/evening telephone numbers where you can be reached. We'll publish comments on April 13.